LIBER'S NOTE BOOK

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 34, 3 November 1917, Page 11

LIBER'S NOTE BOOK

Russian Poetry. ■ Translations of lius=iait novels are pouring from British printing prwses in bewildering numbers. One wonders who reads them all, for despite tho eulogia cf such writers as Maurice Baring. Stephen Graham, Mis. Garnett, and others, Russian iiction strikes most people us being very dreary. That it has great power of realism must be admitted. Do Maupassaut, himself, in this respect, is no superior of Tchevov (whose short stories, by tho way, are now. being iwued in handy liltlo volumes by Chatlo and Windus at 2s. each), and Turgsniev's "Virgin Soil," and Dostoevsky'g "Crime and Punishment.'-' arc recognised classics. But for tho most part Russian novels are altogether too pessimistic ,in tone for most English readers, and personally T find the constant changing, of names— for tho same character—very baffling. Russian literature does not, howovor, consist solely of fiction. Hipping the other evening inlo' a recently published book, "Russian Poets aud Poemo," by Madame N. Jarintsov, I ram© across somo very curious and striking poems by Lormontov, a Russian poet who lived during the early part of (ho Inst century. Lermonbv was at one timo an officer in the Guards, but was exiled lo the Caucasus, whero he was killed, liko his more famous compatriot, Pushkin, in a. duel. Pushkin's "Tales," I may say, are published in two little volumes in' Messrs. Bell's Shilling Library, and made fine, reading. Leimontov appears to have been influenced by an English poet. Lord Byron. One of his longest and best-known poems is "The Demon," the hero of which loves . a Georgian maiden, Tamara, and is loved by her. He plots her damnation, bul a kindly angel carries her off to Heaven. Lermontov's descriptions of the v ild Caucasus mountain and river scenery, which form the background of "Tho Demon," remind one very strongly of certain passages in Byron's "Manfred." As to. his style, the following passages may testify. The first is the beginning of the Demon's oath to Tamara— I swoar by dawn of the creation, By the decay of earthly sooth, By tho disgrace of crime and evil, And bv the triumph of the Truth. I swear by flashing hopes o r conquest. I swear by bitter pains of. fill. I swear bv having mot with-thee, And by tho threat of losing, ?11; I swear by legions of the spirits, And by the brethren of my wne, By swoTds of passionless aronangels, Hy over-waiting callous foe. ~ . .. The appeal ends thus: .

The crown which Evening: Star is woanng I'll tear from her. and crow:' toy head; I'll take the dew Irom erenirr flowers To shine on it In diamonds Mead; I'll take a suneet ray 0! scarlet. And gird thee with its ribbon light; I'll saturate the air around thee With' purest fragrance of the night. A never-dying magio musio Will charm thine ears by fall ar.l jwell. I'll build a-palace ont oftawn And pearls and gold for thee to dwell; I'll search for thee-tho depths of ocean; HI get all riches from the stars; I'll givo thee every earthly treasureBut lovo mo! . . ■

The Poetry of J. C. Squires. <t In tho course of an article (in "Today," now a monthly, magazine), Mr. John Freeman, warmly, praises the poems of J. C. Squires, whoso clever parodies "Tricks of .the Trade" have been so well reviewed. Mr. SquiTes is by no means only a satirist and humourist. In proof of this, Mr. Freeman quotes from a-painful but powerful poem entitled "The March.":

I hear I voice that cried: "Make way for those who died!' . ~ And all the coloured crowd like ghosts at morning fled; . And down the waiting road rank after rank In mute and°mea.sured maroh a hundred thousand dead. A hundred thousand dead, with firm and noiseless-tread, AH shadowy-grey, yet sobd, with laces groy and ghast. , . And by. the house they went, and all their ' brows were beat , Straight forward; and they passed, and passed, and passed, and ipassea.

Of the' hori'or of war could be bavea more grimly tragic a picture than in these lines? Does, I wonder, the- « 3b.ie! Assassin ever dream, and what can ins dreams be like? Victory or Free Trade. Mr. L; J. Masse,-the far-seeiM and courageously outspoken editor of lne National Review," contributes a preface to a little book entitled "Victory or Free Trade," written by a. British resident in Germany. Discussing the prospect of peace negotiations, the author says: It is doubtful whether there are many of our statesmen -who have such a knowledge of wickedness as to render them fit and proper persons to negotiate witi Germans 1 It is doubtful whether we should Se to have statesmen sufflcently wicked to stand a chance of successfully, negotiat-ing-wlth them. If we cannot beat German frigM-fulness in the field, we cerSinly Se no match for German iinscrupuon"ness and duplicity in »*«•■«?*£ wiec Hence tho eitreme gravity of tne danger of agreeing to any negotiations with Germany.

There is, however, an even- greater danger, thus expressed by Mr. Masse:

■Whenever it (the war) readies its appointed end we may be surel that the Right Hon. Faintheart will join hands with tho Right Hon. Foebleguts in an enlightened and progressive effort to save Germany from tho penalties of defeat by the simple process of transferring them to British shoulders.

It is a curious and significant fact that before tho war German merchafJs in England, or men of German extraction, were very prominent contributors to Freo Trade propaganda lunds.

Stray Leaves. - | Baroness Orczy has written a new novel of her "Scarlet Pimpernel" series, "Lord Tony's Wife." . A war novel which . bhonld ■ be worth reading is Ealph Connors llie Major" Mr. Connor'* excellent stories of the Canadian Aorta-West will be remembered by many cf my readers, the author has been serving as a cnaplain with the Canadian Forces in 1 landers for some time past, Hodders are the puD'irfthe "British Weekly" of _ August 30 "A Man of Kent" writes: "Much agitation has been caused in literary circles during the past week by a rumour tuut Z importation of books, excepting educational works into Australasia wa», to to prohiWlU or at least great y n*tnclcd. 1 have good authority tor■ ro>i»B that no steps in this matter .« lk , el \>". bo taken, at least ior tho pra.cnl. A«. in the future, so "L.ber" may add .u> a ness tho appearance of Lord Moileyh "torn niscences," an autobiographical It which is sure to bo interesting. Tor Mr. John) Morloy acted m h clay aa viscr to Macmillans.- Ho admits 11 at in two notable instances he ailed to re ™<mise lho genius of auluuis. J. mbS onc o °submUt«l to h,m _» l lurt of subjects, but Morley declared them to bo not siifhoiently up to date An app 1cation by. -KoberlLonis Seven-« to write a boot lor the "bng ish Men or Utters" series was also declined, on the ™,nd of Stevenson's then comparative obscurity as an author. Arnold, Bennett promises a new volume of "Essays" for early publication, ttw volume of reprinted essays Irom Ihe New Ago," cnhtlcd "Books nd \ Pe 1SO ns," has had a good salo. It s lull of good things for. bookmen Later on I hope to give somo extracts Admirers of that clever Irish wntei, ■•George Birmingham" (in real life Canon HnJinay) will be glad to learn that we „re to have a. new 1 long story from his pen, entitled "The Island Mystery. Mothuens will publish the book. Tho same firm announce now novels by Jtarjons

Bowen ("The Third Estate"), 11. C. Bailey, author of "The Vaco of Clay" ("Tho Young Lovers"), Frederick Watson ("Children of Passaic"), and that clover humorist, P. G. Wudchouso ("Uneasy Money"). Mrs. Florence Barclay, oC "Rosary" fame, has completed a new novel with an historical setting, "The White Ladies of Worcester." It was to bo published by Piitnaras in, Seplembcr last, so that copies should bo hero in timo for-tho Christmas season. Tho English edition of Mr. W. J. Locko's latest novel, "The Bed Planet," which has been "out" in America for somo timo past, is to bo published by Mr. John Lane, who also announces a.now story, "Coolebs," by V. E. Mills Young, whoso South Africau stories have been so widely read. Jeffrey Farnol's new story, "The Delinito Object," which ran as a serial in "Chambers' Journal," was to be published in Lojtdon Inst month. Tho scene is laid, for the most part, in New York, where Mr. Parnol onco lived and worked as a scene painter. Tho title of "lan Hay's" sequel to his wonderfully successful "Tho First_ Hundred Thousand" was to have been "Carry On." It was found, however, that this particular title, had already been used, m tho new book of the clever Scots writer is .to bo issued under the title "All In Jl." Inn Hay's real name is, 1 might add, lan Hay Beilh. Ho was a, master at the famous Scots public school of Fetl.es before ho look to novelwriting. To-day ho is a captain at the front.

The new biography of Keats, upon which Sir Sidney Colvin has been engaged for some time past, is to be published very shortly by llacmillans. An interesting articlo by Mr. Davideon Cook, entitled "Burns and Stothard," appears in the September issno of "The Bookman" (Hodder and Stoughton). Stothard, the famous English artist, toured Scotland in 1808. and made, it appears, a series of sketches of Burns' people." Unfortunately, all trace of these sketches has been lost, and Mr. Cook's object is to give such information, gleaned from certain recently-unearthed new "Burnsiana," as may lead to their discovery. In. the Eame issue Mr. William Canton has an appreciative article on "C. J, Dennis and His Poems." Several illustrations are given, showing the author of "The Sentimental Bloke" at his modest country home at Toolangi, Victoria, with many interesting, biographical details'. Boberl Birkmyre has a good article-on the recently-published, full, and authorised translation of Tolstoy's "Diary,' and there are many other good features. The illustrations to tho Burns articlo are exceptionally' interesting.

Another volume, the fourth, of Mrs. Garnett's excellent translations of Tchekov's stories has been issued. As I have said before, Tohehov is, at his best, as good as Do Maupassant, and 1 find him by far the most readable o£ tho Eussians.

Beviews of John ■ Galsworthy's latest novel, "Beyond," are scarcely enthusiastic. Galsworthy never seems to have repeated the hit Le made with his two earlier novels, "The Man of Property" and "The Country. House,"